After a long period of war, Colombia has just signed an peace treaty with FARC guerrillas.It didn’t take long for travellers to start arriving, and more and more people are asking us: what can I do in Colombia? What are the country’s must-see cities and places? What is there to visit? What to see? So we’ve put together a 5-point summary of what to do in Colombia…
WHAT TO DO IN COLOMBIA: MUST-SEE PLACES
CARTHAGEN
This one was a no-brainer, and it’s probably your first choice in Colombia… and rightly so! We’ve said it enough already, Cartagena is a magnificent city. A bastion of the Spanish empire in South America in the 16th century, its rich and colourful architecture bears witness to its importance at the time. It played an economic and political role, and was the centre of the slave trade as well as the transit point for gold plundered from Mexico (Aztec gold) to northern Chile (Inca gold). Thanks to its geographical position, it played an important role in the exploration of the world. The famous vessel San Jose (the subject of a controversy with the United States) with more than $1 trillion in gold and silver on board, was discovered near the Bay of Cartagena. Not to be missed: San Felipe Castle, the Palace of the Inquisition, Plaza Bolivar, Cartagena Bay, San Pedro Claver Cathedral, Plaza Santo Domingo, the Clock Tower, as well as the Rosario Islands, 1 hour away by boat. For more details, read the article What to do in Cartagena de Indias.
COFFEE REGION
Internationally renowned for its aroma, coffee is Colombia’s best-known product. That’s why in our list of ‘things to do in Colombia’ this magnificent region is not to be missed. The Eje Cafetero is located in the west of the country, in the heart of the Andes mountains, and is made up of the departments of Risaralda, Caldas and Quindio. The region has been well known throughout the country since the 80s and 90s for its economic and cultural importance. In fact, advertising for Colombian coffee with Juan Valdez has made it famous the world over. The area has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2011. Don’t miss: Salento, the village of 1,000 colours; the Cocora Valley, home to the national tree, the world’s tallest palm tree, the wax palm; Pijao, a typical village where time seems to stand still; visit a Hacienda, a coffee farm, to learn all about this product.
Coffee is grown just about everywhere in the country. The department of Santander in the east, the Sierra Nevada in the north and the departments of Huila and Pasto in the south are just a few examples of other regions with a strong coffee culture.
BOGOTA
The capital of Colombia, Bogotá is a cosmopolitan metropolis and the undisputed economic, political and administrative centre of the country. It is a must-see city on your visit to Colombia. Located in altiplano cundiboyacense (high plateaus of the Andes), it is the origin of the legend of El Dorado.When the Spanish arrived, Bogotá was inhabited by the Chibchas, an Amerindian civilisation that has now disappeared. They were magnificent goldsmiths. Once a year, the Chibcha chief would go to Lake Guatavita to make gold offerings to the gods. The villagers would throw gold objects encrusted with precious stones into the lake. On their return to Spain, the Spaniards told these stories, which gradually became the legend of El Dorado. Don’t miss: the Gold Museum with over 10,000 gold coins; Candelaria, the city’s historic centre; Plaza Bolivar with the Nariño Palace (presidential palace); Bogotá’s Major Cathedral; and Usaquen. For going out at night, Zone T around the Andino shopping centre is the liveliest area.
MEDELLIN
What else is there to do in Colombia? Everyone has heard of Medellin, the city of the world’s most notorious drug trafficker, Pablo Escobar, which dominated the headlines for several years. However, the city has managed to transform itself thanks to investments in transport infrastructure, hydroelectric power, etc., and is now one of Colombia’s must-visit cities. With a very mild climate, it is known as the city of eternal spring. It is the capital of the department of Antioquia, also located in the heart of the Andes. Don’t miss: the Plaza Botero, filled with sculptures by Fernando Botero, Colombian artist known for his ‘very large’ or voluminous characters; the métrocable, the public transport system linking disadvantaged neighbourhoods to the city centre; the Arvi eco-tourism park, a nature reserve covering more than 16,000 hectares. In the department: Peñol Rock, a 220-metre monolith overlooking the Guatapé dam; Santa Fé de Antioquia, considered one of the most beautiful villages in Colombia; and Santa Helena, a village with a wide variety of flowers.
TAYRONA NATIONAL NATURAL PARK
The 2nd most visited natural park in Colombia (the 1st is the Rosario National Coral Park, opposite Cartagena), it is a nature reserve with 30km2 of sea and 150km2 of land. It is home to the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, the highest coastal mountain range in the world at 5,775 metres, 40km from the sea (where you can also find some very fine coffee plantations), as well as dozens of wild, unspoilt, heavenly beaches and hundreds of species of mammals, birds, amphibians, coral, plants, etc. that are unique in the world. The Ciudad Perdida, or Lost City, is an archaeological site in the Park. This city was never found by the Spanish during the conquest and seems to have been founded around 800 AD. It can only be reached after a 3-day walk through dense, humid jungle. Don’t miss: the walk through the park to Arrecifes beach and Cabo San Juan; inland, the area around the village of Minca and, if you have time, the trek to the Lost City.
You want to go to Colombia, and visit the must-see places? Contact us now for more information and to plan your tailor-made trip together.
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